Timberwolves interview Terry Porter for coaching job

Posted by
Inside Hoops

Jul
19

Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:

The Timberwolves reached into their past — summoning a former player brought to the franchise long ago to help mentor budding superstar Kevin Garnett — to find the first candidate who interviewed for their vacant head-coaching position.

And it wasn’t Sam Mitchell.

Former Milwaukee and Phoenix head coach Terry Porter was that first candidate who formally interviewed with president of basketball operations David Kahn and likely owner Glen Taylor on Monday, league sources with knowledge of the team’s search said.

The process will continue this week. Don Nelson — who has won more games (1,335) than any other NBA coach — is believed to be among those due into Minneapolis to interview.

Porter is a former two-time All Star who played point guard — the same position as just-signed Ricky Rubio — for 17 NBA seasons with Portland, the Wolves, Miami and San Antonio.

He also is a guy who was fired by Phoenix in February 2009 after four months on the job when his attempt to emphasize defense and slow down the Suns’ breakneck offense enough to incorporate Shaquille O’Neal was deemed a failure by then-General Manager Steve Kerr.